The Canon of John Lydgate Project

The Lives of Ss. Edmund and Fremund: Text

MS Harley 2278 fol. 42r
[Illumination showing Lothbrok cast up on the shore of Norfolk. The initial "D" of the first stanza is elaborately decorated.]

Diuers dau[n]geres / he passid of many a fond
With sondry tempestis / forpossid to and fro
Tyl be fortune he was cast upon the lond
ffer up in Northfolke / the story tellith so
Beside a village / callid Redam tho
Men of the contre / for an vnkouth thyng
Hym and his hauk / presented to the kyng
Ryht merueilous / and riht a strange caas
A kyng to come / fro so fer contre
And no man koude espie what he was
In his apport / he kepte him so secre
Thyng that god wil / it must needis be
To muse theron / the labour were in veyn
Or to dispute / or argue ther ageyn